Insight into the increment of the formability and strength in bcc structured Mg–Li–Zn alloy

Abstract

A high-strength Mg–13Li–9Zn (wt.%) alloy was prepared by quenching, annealing, and rolling. Quenching introduced a large amount of MgZn2 particle at the grain boundaries resulting in the loss of formability. Reasonable annealing can repair the fragile grain boundaries of as-quenched alloys and significantly improve formability. In a subsequent rolling process, α-Mg nanograins and ordered B2 nanoparticles were introduced into the β-Li matrix. Finally, a bcc-structured magnesium-lithium alloy with a high yield strength of 380 MPa and high specific yield strength of 251 kN m kg−1 was obtained after 70% rolling.